Tablets of the drug Glimepiride taken inside, whole, not liquid, squeezed a sufficient amount of liquid (about 0.5 cup).If necessary, the tablets can be divided along the risks into two equal parts.
Typically, the dose of the drug Glimepiride is determined by the target concentration of glucose in the blood. The lowest dose, sufficient to achieve the necessary metabolic control, should be used.
During treatment with the drug Glimepiride it is necessary to regularly determine the concentration of glucose in the blood. In addition, regular monitoring of glycated hemoglobin is recommended.
Incorrect drug intake, for example, skipping the next dose, should never be replenished by the subsequent administration of a higher dose.
The patient's actions in case of mistakes in taking the medication (in particular, if the next dose is skipped or the meal is skipped) or in situations where there is no possibility to take the drug, should be discussed by the patient and the doctor in advance.
Initial dose and dose selection
The initial dose is 1 mg glimepiride 1 time per day.
If necessary, the daily dose can be increased gradually (at intervals of 1-2 weeks). It is recommended that the dose be increased under regular control of blood glucose concentrations and in accordance with the following dose increment step: 1 mg-2 mg-3 mg-4 mg-6 mg- (8 mg).
Range of doses the patients with well-controlled diabetes mellitus
Usually a daily dose in patients with well-controlled diabetes mellitus is 1-4 mg of glimepiride. A daily dose of more than 6 mg is more effective only in a small number of patients.
Dosing regimen
The time of taking the drug and the distribution of doses during the day is determined by the doctor depending on the lifestyle of the patient at a given time (meal time, amount of physical exertion).
It is usually enough to take a single dose of the drug during the day. It is recommended that in this case the entire dose of the drug be taken immediately before a full breakfast or, if it was not taken at this time, just before the first main meal. It is very important after taking the tablets not to skip meals.
Since improvement in metabolic control is associated with an increase in insulin sensitivity, the need for glimepiride may decrease during treatment. In order to avoid the development of hypoglycemia, it is necessary to reduce the dose in a timely manner or stop taking the drug Glimepiride.
Conditions in which a dose adjustment may also be required:
- decreased body weight;
- changes in lifestyle (changing diet, meal time, amount of exercise);
- the occurrence of other factors that lead to a predisposition to the development of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia (see section "Special instructions").
Duration of treatment
Treatment with drug Glimepiride it usually takes a long time.
Transfer of a patient from another hypoglycemic agent for oral administration to Glimepiride
There is no exact relationship between the doses of the drug Glimepiride and other hypoglycemic agents for oral administration. When another hypoglycemic agent for oral use is substituted for the drug Glimepiride, it is recommended that its initial dose be the same as for the initial prescription of the drug Glimepiridei.e. treatment should begin with a low dose of 1 mg (even if the patient is transferred to a drug Glimepiride with a maximum dose of another hypoglycemic preparation for oral administration).Any increase in the dose should be carried out in stages, taking into account the effectiveness of glimepiride in accordance with the recommendations given above.
It is necessary to take into account the strength and duration of the effect of the precursor hypoglycemic agent for oral administration. An interruption in treatment may be required in order to avoid any "summation of effects that may increase the risk of developing hypoglycemia."
Use in combination with metformin
In patients with insufficiently controlled diabetes mellitus, when taking the maximum daily doses of glimepiride or metformin, treatment with a combination of these two drugs can be started. In this case, the previous treatment with glimepiride or metformin continues at the same dose level, and an additional intake of metformin or glimepiride starts at a low dose, which is then titrated, depending on the target level of metabolic control, up to the maximum daily dose. Combination therapy should begin under strict medical supervision.
Use in combination with insulin
Patients with insufficiently controlled diabetes mellitus at intake of the maximum daily doses of glimepiride can simultaneously be prescribed insulin administration.In this case, the last dose of glimepiride prescribed to the patient remains unchanged. In this case, treatment with insulin begins with low doses, which gradually increase under the control of the concentration of glucose in the blood. Combined treatment requires careful medical supervision.
Application the patients with renal insufficiency
There is a limited amount of information on the use of glimepiride in patients with renal insufficiency. Patients with impaired renal function may be more sensitive to the hypoglycemic effect of glimepiride (see the sections "Pharmacokinetics", "Contraindications").
Application the patients with hepatic insufficiency
There is a limited amount of information on the use of glimepiride in liver failure (see "Contraindications").
Application the children
Data on the use of the drug in children is not enough.